Monthly Archives: June 2021

Flooding update Canterbury and Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge, SH1 reopening 10pm tonight for light traffic

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Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge

The Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge on SH1 reopens for light traffic at 10 pm tonight, 1 June.*  The bridge will have two-way traffic, restricted to 30 km/ hour in each direction.

The bridge was closed this morning after drivers reported slumping on the deck at the Ashburton end. This evening it was load tested using a crane and 14 tonne weights by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“The damaged pier, which sunk around 150mm during the recent one-in-100-year floods, is stable, based on the monitoring data received tonight,” says Pete Connors, System Manager for Waka Kotahi.

“Based on these results under load testing pressure each lane, the bridge can take light traffic,” he says.

Mr Connors thanked all local people and regular users of the bridge for their patience while this essential, precautionary load-testing was undertaken. He urged people to take it slowly on not just this bridge but local roads in coming days.

“Many roads will need patching and repairs after being under water and damaged by debris for 48 hours. There will be temporary speed limits in several places around the Canterbury region while crews catch up with that work.”

There is no access for pedestrians or cyclists at this stage.

A bridge closure Wednesday, 10 am to 2 pm

Load testing for heavier traffic (trucks) will be underway on Wednesday, 2 June, and there will be a late morning to early afternoon bridge closure involved. This will be 10 am to 2 pm.

Repairs

“Waka Kotahi bridge engineers are working on the longer-term solutions for this bridge’s pier and we will keep the community informed as that is developed,” says Mr Connors.

Waka Kotahi System Manager Pete Connors, left, explains the stress loading systems used to test bridge piers to Ashburton District Council’s emergency operations centre staff and Mayor Neil Brown this afternoon.

Local road routes outside SH1 and other state highways

For local road details for journeys that do not involve the Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge, please check the links in red at the top of the Waka Kotahi page https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

Current state highway road closures across Canterbury

There are just two highway closures in place in Canterbury tonight:

SH73 Springfield to Castle Hill

Aiming to reopen late Thursday.

SH1 The Hinds River Bridge

With a short, local road detour signposted in place

All other state highways in Canterbury are now open, albeit with advice to take care and slow down as flooding debris is being cleared away today and this week.

*Light vehicles generally weigh less than 3.5 tonnes and are mostly  driven by Class 1 driver licence holders. Freight vehicles/trucks need to use alternate routes to get around Ashburton tonight and tomorrow until further load testing on Wednesday is available. Details of local roads open and maps are outlined on the Ashburton District Council’s webpage as at 8.40 pm tonight.

Ashburton District Council’s webpage 

Local council maps and directions for those alternate local road routes

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SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: road layout changes this week

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A new road layout, including the removal of the Work Road passing lane and reinstatement of the Aongatete passing lane, will get underway from today.  

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Jo Wilton says the passing lane closure has been part of the design for this area.

“People entering and leaving Work Road told us they felt unsafe turning right across the passing lane. The community was advised of the design in January, with general support for the closure. A wide shoulder will be included to enable slower vehicles to pull over,” says Ms Wilton.

The wide shoulder will help reduce driver frustration and unsafe passing manoeuvres by allowing slower vehicles to pull over to the left so other vehicles have the opportunity to pass. Drivers should demonstrate courtesy by allowing vehicles that have slowed back into the flow of traffic.

“While we acknowledge there may be some frustration with the removal of the passing lane, Waka Kotahi is committed to Vision Zero, a vision for Aotearoa New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads, and removing the passing lane in this location is the safest option,” says Ms Wilton.

These works are part of Section 8 Sharp Road to Sargent Drive. Temporary speed limits will be in place to allow traffic to adapt to the new road layout and the works are expected to be completed by 11 June.

Other activity on the state highway includes relocation of services, shoulder widening and new line markings between Athenree Road and Kauri Point Road.

Minor delays should be expected and drivers are encouraged to take extra care, reduce their speed and follow directions of the traffic management staff and signage.

“Ideally we would have provided more notice about these works taking place, however delays on other areas of the project with consents has meant the construction team are moving around the corridor where they can,” says Ms Wilton.

Visit the interactive Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for the latest information on roadworks, traffic, road closures and detours to help plan your trip.

Journey Planner

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

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Flooding update – Canterbury and Ashburton River/Hakatere Bridge, SH1 – 11.45am, Tuesday 1 June 2021

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Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge

The Ashburton River/ Hakatere Bridge was closed this morning after drivers reported slumping at the Ashburton end.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency engineers are inspecting the bridge and its piers this morning, says  Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.

“We will know more about possible structural remedies this afternoon,” she says. “We need to understand the degree of damage before we can look at a repair strategy and possible timeframes for reopening the bridge.”

No detour today

There is no detour via road currently available to SH1 at Ashburton at this time.

Waka Kotahi will be working closely with the Ashburton District Council to get an alternate route reopened, as soon as we can, says Ms Forrester.

Waka Kotahi map showing the five current state highway road closures across Canterbury

Aiming for a possible Thursday opening. Please note the Lewis Pass SH7 is open connecting the West Coast to Canterbury.

People can travel from Darfield to Windwhistle around lunchtime today, (1 June) but the Windwhistle to Mount Hutt section is still being assessed and will remain closed today.

This section of highway is likely to reopen to one lane initially Tuesday afternoon, 1 June.

Currently being assessed – see notes above.

We are still waiting for flood waters to recede to get a full assessment of repairs needed at various points on this stretch of highway.

All other state highways in Canterbury are now open, albeit with advice to take care and slow down as flooding debris is being cleared away today and this week.

Current situation this morning, Tuesday, 1 June
Canterbury road closures map - 1 June 2021

View larger image

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